US Medical Term · anatomy
Neutrophils
Neutrófilos
What do neutrophils do?
The National Cancer Institute explains that neutrophils travel to the site of infection, where they destroy the microorganisms by ingesting them and releasing enzymes that kill them. Neutrophils also boost the response of other immune cells.
How are neutrophils counted?
MedlinePlus explains that a blood differential test measures the amount and/or percentage of each type of white blood cell, and that another test, called a white blood count, measures the total number of these cells in the blood. For the differential, a health care professional takes a blood sample from a vein in the arm, using a small needle. MedlinePlus notes that abnormal results don't always mean a person has a condition that needs medical treatment; a language reference cannot interpret a result for a particular person.
What it means
Neutrophils are a type of white blood cell that is an important part of the immune system and helps the body fight infection. MedlinePlus describes neutrophils as the most common type of white blood cell and the body's main defense against infection when bacteria, viruses, or other germs enter the body. According to the National Cancer Institute, when microorganisms such as bacteria or viruses enter the body, neutrophils are one of the first immune cells to respond. A neutrophil is a type of granulocyte and a type of phagocyte. Neutrophils are one of the five different types of white blood cells, and a blood differential test measures the amount of each type of white blood cell that you have in your blood.
Neutrophils in Spanish
- Spanish term
- Neutrófilos
- Gender and article
- masculine plural: los neutrófilos (singular: el neutrófilo)
- Pronunciation
- neh-oo-TROH-fee-lohs
| Other Spanish terms | Where it is used | Note |
|---|---|---|
| granulocito neutrófilo | General | Second name given in the National Cancer Institute's Spanish dictionary entry for neutrófilo, after the words También se llama. |
| leucocito neutrófilo | General | Third name given in the same National Cancer Institute entry. |
Neutrófilos is the plural that MedlinePlus en español prints in its list of the five types of white blood cells, where it describes them as el tipo más común de glóbulo blanco. The National Cancer Institute's Spanish dictionary enters the singular, neutrófilo, and adds two longer names: granulocito neutrófilo and leucocito neutrófilo. The Spanish dictionary enters neutrófilo, la as an adjective; in its medical sense it is said of a leukocyte that takes part in the body's response to infections, and the dictionary notes that this sense is also used as a masculine noun.
The other four types named on the MedlinePlus en español page are linfocitos, monocitos, eosinófilos and basófilos. The test that measures each type is called fórmula leucocitaria there, and the page lists recuento diferencial de glóbulos blancos among its other names. White blood cells are glóbulos blancos, which the page says are also known as leucocitos.
Phrases for an appointment
What a patient or a clinician might say, in English and Spanish:
| Who | English | Spanish |
|---|---|---|
| Clinician | Your blood test shows that your neutrophils are low. | Su análisis de sangre muestra que tiene los neutrófilos bajos. |
| Patient | What are neutrophils? | ¿Qué son los neutrófilos? |
| Clinician | They are a type of white blood cell that helps the body fight infections. | Son un tipo de glóbulo blanco que ayuda al cuerpo a combatir las infecciones. |
| Patient | Does that mean I have an infection? | ¿Eso significa que tengo una infección? |
| Clinician | Not necessarily. I am going to order other tests to find the cause. | No necesariamente. Voy a pedir otras pruebas para determinar la causa. |
| Patient | Do I need to do anything to prepare for the blood test? | ¿Tengo que hacer algo para prepararme para el análisis de sangre? |
| Clinician | No special preparation is necessary. | No se necesita ninguna preparación especial. |
| Patient | When will I have the results? | ¿Cuándo tendré los resultados? |
In 9 languages
| Language | Term |
|---|---|
| English | Neutrophils |
| Spanish (Español) | Neutrófilos |
| Chinese (中文) | 嗜中性球 |
| Korean (한국어) | 중성구 |
| Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) | Bạch cầu trung tính |
| Filipino (Tagalog) | Neutropil |
| Portuguese (Português) | Neutrófilos |
| Thai (ภาษาไทย) | นิวโทรฟิล |
| Japanese (日本語) | 好中球 |
Where you'll see it
Related terms
Your right to an interpreter in the United States
If English is not your primary language and you have difficulty communicating in English, you may need an interpreter or a translated document when you visit a doctor or dentist, go to the emergency room or pick up a prescription. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights states that two federal laws, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act, require programs that receive its funding to provide language access services free of charge.
You can ask when you make the appointment or at the front desk: "I need an interpreter, please." «Necesito un intérprete, por favor.»
More terms: Blood and immune system
All terms in this area: Blood and immune system — Sangre y sistema inmunitario
Sources
- neutrophil — NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms — National Cancer Institute (NCI), NIH
- neutrófilo — Diccionario de cáncer del NCI — Instituto Nacional del Cáncer (NCI), NIH
- Blood Differential — MedlinePlus Medical Test, National Library of Medicine
- Fórmula leucocitaria — MedlinePlus en español, Biblioteca Nacional de Medicina
- neutrófilo, la — Diccionario de la lengua española — Real Academia Española / ASALE
- Limited English Proficiency (LEP): Your Right to Language Assistance Services — U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights
This page is a language reference. It is not medical advice.
Last reviewed: October 8, 2026